Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Jerome Gambit: Puzzles and Mysteries (Part 2)



Before I began this blog, much of my investigation into the Jerome Gambit appeared online in the "Puzzles and Mysteries" section of Edward Winter's The Chess History Information and Research Center. Although it highlighted my mis-steps almost as often as my true discoveries, it provided valuable exposure to my quest, and put me in touch with a number of helpful sources, for which I remain expecially thankful to Mr. Winter.

With the help of the online Wayback Machine, I was able to bring much of this information forward. It adds to my earlier series of posts containing my longer Jerome Gambit article.

The October 1881 Brentano's Chess Monthly contains a letter from S. A.Charles on the gambit, as well as analysis taken from correspondence games played between Charles and Jerome. Charles also mentions he had published analysis on the gambit in the Pittsburg Telegraph.
Neil Brennen, 19.12.01

A Jerome Gambit Chronology
The March 1876 (No. 71, p.103) issue of the Dubuque Chess Journal (also known at different times as the American Chess Journal and Brownson's Chess Journal) contained a game between Alonzo Jerome and William Shinkman, called "Jerome's Double Opening": 
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 d6 8.0-0 Nf6 9.f4 c5 10.Qc3 Neg4 11.Nd2 b5 12.h3 h5 13.e5 b4 14.Qf3 Ba6 15.exf6 Bxf1 16.Qb7+ Kxf6 17.Ne4+ Kg6 18.f5+ Kxf5 19.hxg4+ Kg6 20.Qd5 Qd7 21.Qg5+ Kf7 22.gxh5 Bc4 23.b3 Be6 24.Bb2 Rag8 25.Rd1 d5 26.Be5 Rf8 27.Rf1+ Kg8 28.Nf6+ Rxf6 29.Bxf6 Rh6 30.Rf4 a5 31.Be5 c4 32.bxc4 dxc4 33.Bd4 a4 34.Re4 b3 35.cxb3 cxb3 36.a3 Qf7 37.g4 Qc7 38.Be5 b2 39.Bxb2 Qg3+ 40.Kf1 Qf3+ 41.Kg1 Qg3+ 42.Kf1 ½-½.
Around 1890, Blackburne won his famous game against an Amateur, at Simpson's Divan in London. It does not seem to have influenced written sources; perhaps it only appeared in print in Mr. Blackburne's Games at Chess, in 1899:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qxh8 Qh4 9.0-0 Nf6 10.c3 Ng4 11.h3 Bxf2+ 12.Kh1 Bf5 13.Qxa8 Qxh3+ 14.gxh3 Bxe4#
The Games section of Brentano's Chess Monthly, October 1881, contained 6 not-completed correspondence games between Jerome and S.A. Charles, with analysis. In an accompanying letter to the editor, Charles said he had "published in the Pittsburg Telegraph a compilation of such analyses of the Jerome Gambit as I could find, with some additions from published games." This is no doubt how Charles got identified in the American Supplement to Cooks' Synopsis as the opening's chief analyst.
Published in 1884, Cook's Synopsis of Chess Openings A Tabular Analysis by William Cook, With American Inventions in the Openings and Fresh Analysis since 1882, by J. W. Miller; had some analysis of the gambit, including the note "This move [4.Bxf7+] constitutes the Jerome Gambit, which, although unsound, affords some highly instructive analysis."
The first edition of Chess Openings Ancient and Modern, 1889, gives the Jerome Gambit its own chapter, calling it "a very risky attack." The second edition of Chess Openings Ancient and Modern, 1893, expands its analysis, but notes "it is very rarely practicised, but as a similar sacrifice of a minor piece for two pawns to stop Black from castling may often occur in the King's Knight's opening, we give the Jerome Gambit as a representative form of this kind of attack on its merits, showing its strengths and weaknesses apart from accidental circumstances, which in actual play may materially affect the result."
By 1906, Cook published The Evolution of the Chess Openings, with no mention of the Jerome Gambit.
Rick Kennedy, 01.01.02

Gathering information on the Jerome Gambit, (or "Jerome's Double Opening" asit was referred to in the Dubuque Chess Journal of March 1876), I have run across an article by W. John Lutes, in the 11/28/61 issue of the Ohio State University student chess club newsletter, "Phalanx"Lutes analyzes the opening, and refers to "Mortimer's analysis from MOCO." This appears to be a reference to James Mortimer, editor of The New Century Chess-Book, and Companion to the Chess Player's Pocket-Book; but neither title fits the intials referred to. (For what it's worth, the edition of MCO - Modern Chess Openings - available to Lutes was MCO9, and it has nothing on the Jerome.)
Can anyone supply the name of the reference? Thank you.
Rick Kennedy, 08.01.02

A couple of days in the Carnegie Library, Pittsburgh, viewing microfilm of the Pittsburg Telegraph, yields the following pieces to the Jerome Gambit puzzle (placed in temporal perspective around the previously noted article in the October 1881 issue of Brentano's Chess Monthly): 
Pittsburgh Telegraph, January 19, 1881: "The following careful and complete analysis of the Jerome Gambit, one of the newest attacks in chess, and to be found in but few books, was compiled and condensed for THE TELEGRAPH by Mr. S. A. Charles, President of the Cincinnati Chess Club, and victor in its recent tournay.... [analysis given]"
Pittsburgh Telegraph, February 2, 1881: "The following game played betwen the author of the 'Jerome Gambit' and another amateur." Jerome,A - Amateur 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ This move constitutes the gambit, and although unsound, as shown by Mr. Charles' analysis in this column, yet leads to some intersting and critical positions. 4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 d6 8.f5+ Ke7 9.Nc3 Nf6 10.Qh4 c6 11.d3 Qe8 12.Bg5 b5 13.0-0-0 h5 14.d4 Bxd4 15.Rxd4 c5 16.Bxf6+ gxf6 17.Nd5+ Kf7 18.Qxf6+ Kg8 19.Ne7+ Kh7 20.Rxd6 Ng4 21.Qg5 1-0"
Pittsburgh Telegraph, April 27, 1881: "To the Chess Editor of the Telegraph, A few weeks ago I sent you a compilation of such analysis as I could find of the 'Jerome Gambit,' not claiming to present anything new, but only to furnish in a compact form some information which was not probably accessible to most of your readers.
"Since its publication I have received some letters from Mr. Jerome, the inventor of the gambit, claiming that his gambit was sound and that the attack could be improved upon in some fo the variations given. Mr. Jerome's claims as to the corrections, at last, seem to be well founded, and I give below, as an appendix to my former article, a short tabular statement covering the principal changes and correstions suggested by him.
"It is much to be hoped that Mr. Jerome may himself give to the public at an early date his own analysis of this, the only opening of any note of American Invention. Very respectfully, I. [sic] A. Charles... [analysis given]"
Pittsburgh Telegraph, June 8, 1881: "A letter received from Mr. A. W. Jerome calls attention to the fact that he does not claim the Jerome Gambit to be analytically sound, but only that over the board it is sound enough to afford a vast amount of amusement. Mr. J. Refers to the so-called 'Meadow Hay' opening as being an American invention. Well, if that is so, the less said about it the better for American chess reputation."
Brentano's Chess Monthly, October 1881: "Some time since I published in the Pittsburg Telegraph a compilation of such analyses of the Jerome Gambit as I could find, with some additions from published games. Mr. Jerome justly criticized some of the moves as not being the best for either party, and we commenced as series of correspondence games more as a test of the opening than of individual skill.
"Unfortunately Mr. Jerome's business engagements have prevented him from playing out the full number of games originally started; yet the situation even in the unfinished games seems to me at least to prove the gambit unsound, and that while White may win against weak, he cannot do against strong play.
"I should add, perhaps, that Mr. Jerome does consider the defenses here given to 6.d4 to be the best but he does not suggest any others. Very respectfully S.A. Charles... [analysis given]"
Pittsburgh Telegraph, November 2, 1881: "To the Chess Editor of the Telegraph. The following analysis is a compilation, but is primarily based on games played by me with Mr. Jerome. A part of it has appeared in Bretano's Chess Monthly for October, but as the notation there adopted is not as good, in my opininon, as the tabular form, and as it also comtains some misprints and errors, owing, perhaps to my chirography, I have thought best to rewrite and add to the article and forward to you if you have space for it. Very respectfully,S.A.Charles... [analysis given]"
Pittsburgh Telegraph, November 16, 1881: To and From Correspondents.Mr. Charles writes calling attention to small errors in his analysis of the Jerome Gambit.."
Pittsburgh Chronicle Telegraph, February 27, 1884: "In Cincinnati we met a number of players in the Mercantile Library, the chess room of which... We also had the pleasure of contesting several games with Mr. Jerome, of PaxtonIll. He is well known as the author of the so-called Jerome Gambit, in which white sacrifices the Bishop by taking KBP on the fourth move of the Giuoco Piano game. Neither the gambit nor its author proved strong in the contest."
Pittsburgh Chronicle Telegraph, May 21, 1884: "One feature of the first American Edition of "Cook's Synopsis of the Openings," which will soon be published by Robert Clarke and Co. of Cincinnati, will be a supplement containing the fresh analysis that has come into notice during the last two or three years. It is especially desired to give all American openings, or important American variations in the old openings. The Text of "Cook's Synopsis" will be presented exactly as it stands in the third and last edition, now out of print, but greatly in demand as it deserves to be. It is hoped that the additions will give the book a new value for America."
Please note the last item from the Chronicle Dispatch: both "fresh analysis that has come into notice during the last two or three years" and "it is especially desired to give all American openings" point towards the Jerome Gambit, regardless of its over-the-board merit. Note, too, that publisher Robert Clarke and Co. and the indefatigable S.A. Charles are both of Cincinnati.
Finally, readers who have flown in and out of Cincinnati may recall that its airport, actually, is across the river in Kentucky. Perhaps Joseph Blackburne's labelling of the Jerome Gambit (Mr. Blackburne's Games of Chess) as "the Kentucky Opening" is merely a slight error of geography.
Rick Kennedy, 18.07.02

Of course, Dr. Tim Harding clarified the date of the Jerome Gambit game Amateur - Blackburne, London, as 1884, some time back.

Despite my fanciful "geography lesson" above, the origin of "the Kentucky Opening" has ben pretty well established: see the blog posts "The Kentucky Opening" Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

It is likely that James Mortimer's "MOCO", referenced by Lutes, refers to his Manual of Chess Openings.

Sunday, January 20, 2019

Jerome Gambit: Puzzles and Mysteries (Part 1)

Before I began this blog, much of my investigation into the Jerome Gambit appeared online in the "Puzzles and Mysteries" section of Edward Winter's The Chess History Information and Research Center. Although it highlighted my mis-steps almost as often as my true discoveries, it provided valuable exposure to my quest, and put me in touch with a number of helpful sources, for which I remain expecially thankful to Mr. Winter.

With the help of the online Wayback Machine, I was able to bring much of this information forward. It adds to my earlier series of posts containing my longer Jerome Gambit article.


Last update30.04.04
I am researching the atavistic Jerome Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ ?? (Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.) The best known example of it is Amateur - BlackburneLondon, 1880: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 4.Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 8.Qxh8 Qh4 9.0-0 Nf6 10.c3 Ng4 11.h3 Bxf2+ 12.Kh1 Bf5 13.Qxa8 Qxh3+ 14.gxh3 Bxe4 mate.
In Mr. Blackburne's Games at Chess, 1899, republished as Blackburne's Chess Games, 1979, the winner notes "I used to call this the Kentucky opening. For a while after its introduction it was greatly favored by certain players, but they soon grew tired of it." 
In Unorthodox Chess Openings, Eric Schiller makes a leap and names the above Amateur as Jerome -- unlikely, in light of a 8/30/97 rec.games.chess.misc posting by Ozgur Karabiyik (found in a deja search) which noted "It appeared first in American Chess Journal, 1876 recommended by Alonzo Wheeler Jerome (1834-1902) of Paxton, Illinois." [the source of this statement is apparently The Oxford Companion to Chess by K. Whyld and D. Hooper] 
The Kentucky allusion is puzzling, although it may relate to the fact that there is apparently analysis of the Jerome Gambit in Freeborough and Rankin's Chess Openings Ancient and Modern, one edition of which (1893), the Cleveland Public Library's catalog notes, was published both in London and Kentucky. Was Blackburne aware when he penned his book...?
I have seen a re-bound copy of Chess Openings, by Freeborough, from the Oberlin College Library, which maddeningly does not have a publication date, and whose title page is typed by a typewriter, as if replacing the original. The publisher, J.E. Wheatley and Co., New-Street, Huddersfield, does not match any listed in the Cleveland Library for the apparently later Chess Openings, Ancient and Modern, by Freeborough and Rankin, with various editions (1889, 1893, 1896,1903, 1905, 1910).
Chess Openings give the opening its own section and opines "The Jerome Gambit is an American invention, and a very risky attack. It is described in the American Supplement [1885] to Cook's Synopsis [1882] as unsound but not to be trifled with... Mr. S. A. Charles of CincinnatiOhio is named in the American Supplement as the chief analyst of this opening."
Mr. Jerome, Amateur, Mr.CharlesIllinoisKentuckyOhio.
All of which is background to the stunning plea, by Michael Kramer, on rec.games.chess.misc, 9/30/97 (again, found with deja)
"Where can I get a copy of  All or Nothing! The Jerome Gambit by Chaim Schmendrik?"
Never mind Keene's brief comments in his Gambits, or those of Batsford Chess Openings, Is there really such a thing as All or Nothing! ???
Rick Kennedy, 24.11.01

The "mystery" of Blackburne's reference to the Jerome Gambit as the "Kentucky Opening" was solved a decade ago - see the blog posts "The Kentucky Opening" Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.


Likewise, there was never a book on the Jerome Gambit titled All or Nothing, as I pointed out, to my embarassment, years ago.

Friday, January 18, 2019

Jerome Gambit; Back Again

Chessfriend angelcamina is back with another Jerome Gambit game played online at "bullet" speed - one minute, with no increment.

I tend to rephrase the question "Is the Jerome Gambit playable?" into something like "Under what conditions is the Jerome Gambit playable?" Bullet games like the following tend to expand my understanding as to what the answer is.

angelcamina - Danielpia
1 0 bullet game, lichess.org, 2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 



4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6



7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Nf6 



10.O-O Kf7 11.f4 Re8 12.d3 d5 



13.e5 Ng4 14.Qg3 h5 15.h3 Nh6 16.d4 Qh4 



17.Qf3 Nf5 18.Qxd5+ Be6 19.Qc5 c6 20.Nc3 Nxf4


A tactical slip, but, at the speed this game was unfolding, I wouldn't be surprised if the defender had yelled out "Three no trump!" instead.

Now, White takes command.

21.Rxf4 Qg3 22.Rf3 Qg6 23.Ne4 b6 24.Nd6+ Ke7 



Checkmate is coming.

25.Nxf5+ Kd7 26.Qd6+ Kc8 27.Qxc6+ Kd8 28.Nd6 Black lost on time.

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Jerome Gambit: Opposite of Expected

The following Jerome Gambit game must have annoyed Black to no end. After playing White even for most of the game (okay - it was a slip for the defender to allow the game to become "even"), he reached a Bishops-of-opposite-colors endgame, only to be tripped up by the presence of an additional Rook on each side. The extra material gave the position middlegame features, specifically that the side on the attack is helped by the opposite-colored Bishops.

Wall, Bill - Guest539588
PlayChess.com, 2018

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 




4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 d6


8.O-O Qf6 

Just checking to see if White is paying attention... 

9.Be3 

He is. The threat was 9...Nf6+, winning White's Queen. 

9...Ne7 10.Nc3 Rf8 11.Nb5 



Black was making progress, moving toward castling-by-hand. It was time for White to shake things up a bit. Black's Queen usually is closer to home, and can deal with threats to c7, but that is not the case, here.

11...N7c6 12.Qd2 Qe7 13.Bg5 Qd7 14.f4 Ng6 



White has gotten to play two of his usueful moves, Bg5 and f2-f4, and had to be happy to see one of the typical "germs" of trouble for Black: the Queen blocks the Bishop which blocks the Rook.

Black is still probably better, but White has the more comfortable position to play. 

15.Qd5+ Ke8 16.e5 dxe5 17.Qxd7+ 

This exchange of Queens may have come as a surprise, but now the King blocks the Bishop that blocks the Rook... 

17...Kxd7 18.f5 Nge7 

19.Rad1+ Nd4 20.Nxd4 exd4 21.Rxd4+ Ke8 22.Re1 Rf7 23.Rde4 Bxf5 24.Rxe7+ Rxe7 25.Rxe7+ Kf8 26.Rxc7 Be4 


Take the Rooks off of the board, and the extra pawn for White is virtually meaningless. Sure, White can still outplay his opponent, but that's a different story.

27.Be7+ Kg8 28. Bb4 Bc6 29.Bc3 g6 30.Rg7+ Kf8 31.Rxh7 b6 32.Rc7 Bb5 33.h4 Black resigned



In club play, especially with the clock ticking, it is sometimes possible to draw a Bishops-of-opposite-colors endgame two pawns down. Here, however, White's Rook ties down Black's Rook (it will cost a pawn to be freed), while confining Black's King to the back rank, limiting its ability to assist in a defensive blockade. 

Monday, January 14, 2019

Jerome Gambit: Missing Ingredients

Black is by no means doomed in the Jerome Gambit. (That's a joke. The Jerome has multiple refutations.) However, the defender needs to stick to the basics of defense (or rampant counter-attack) and not neglect an ingredient or two - an oversight can turn the game around and bring about a painful ending.

Wall, Bill - Guest2783012
PlayChess.com, 2018

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 



4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 d6 8.Nc3 Nf6 9.O-O Be6 

Black is doing fine. White has to pull a few tools out of his "toolbox", perhaps Bg5 or f4, to keep pursuing his chances.

10.f4 Nc6 11.Qd3 Nb4 

The position of White's Queen is too tempting, Black's Knight must kick it. There is the bonus attraction of the chance to attack White's Rook at a1, so Black dives in. He only risks arriving at an even game, but that is too much to give up - he should have continued the typical castle-by-hand with ...Re8 and ...Kg8.

12.Qb5 Nxc2 13.f5 

This looks like desperation, but White knows what he is doing. 

13...Nxa1 14.fxe6+ 

14...Ke7

Black suddenly realizes that something is up, but 14...Kxe6 or 14...Kg8 were ways to stay in the game. Putting his King where the Knight can be pinned to it is asking for trouble.

15.Bg5 Rf8 16.e5 dxe5 17.Qxe5 Ke8 



This probably looked like some kind of solution, but it is not.

18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Qh5+ Ke7 20.Qxh7+ Kxe6


Checkmate follows. 

21.Re1+ Kd6 22.Qd3+ Kc6 23.Qc4+ Kd7 24.Qe6 checkmate



Saturday, January 12, 2019

Jerome Gambit: A Quick Reversal of Fortune

It is nice to surprise your opponent with the Jerome Gambit.

Sometimes, though, that opponent is not only not surprised, he has prepared a special reception. Then, the attacker has to rely upon his knowledge of the Jerome, plus his own skills, to make sure that the game turns out right.


Wall, Bill - Guest2773994
PlayChess.com, 2018

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 



4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 d6 



8.Qd5+ 

White is willing to go after the b-pawn - and Black encourages him to do so.

8...Be6 9.Qxb7 Nf6 10.Nc3 Bc4



A tricky move that appears to be a novelty, according to The Database. Black does not want his opponent to castle. He also limits White's Queen's retreat squares. Previously, Bill has seen 10...Qe7, 10...Qd7, 10...Re8 and 10...Rf8.

11.b3 Rb8 12.Qxa7 Nd3+



Wow.

Black seems to have a low opinion of the Jerome Gambit, or his opponent, or both. This is a very optimistic sacrifice of a piece - but, in all fairness, Black does have an "extra" one to give back.

13.cxd3 Bxd3

White's King is still in the center, Black's pieces attack the pawn at e4, and Black's Rook and Queen are ready to swing over to the e-file.

14.Bg5 Qe7 15.Rc1 Rhe8 16.f3 



Black's attack is beginning to look a bit scary, although the computers are not impreseed. Unfortunately, Black's next move appears to overlook the pin on his Knight.

16...d5

Now White strikes quickly.

17.Nxd5 Qe5 18.Rxc7+ Kg8 19.Rxg7+ Kh8 20.Bxf6 Black Resigned

Thursday, January 10, 2019

Jerome Gambit: Direction

There is an old saying (more of a warning): If you keep on heading in the direction you're going - you'll get there.

The following game shows Black taking an interesting step toward the unknown - but he does not continue. As a result, the game ends pretty much as expected.

Wall, Bill - Guest2781227
PlayChess.com, 2018

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 



4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke8 

Black decides that the gift of one piece is enough, thank you very much. This is not a "refutation" of the Jerome Gambit, but it is the kind of move that can set White to thinking, if he is not familiar with it.

6.Nxc6 dxc6 

The recommended move, instead, is the wild 6...Qh4!? which would lead to a complicated game where White might have a small edge. Not surprisingly, The Database still has no game examples.

The problem with the "normal" text is that it allows the first player to just go about his business.

7.Qh5+ g6 8.Qxc5 Qd6 

An exchange of Queens might break White's attack, and straighten out Black's Queenside pawns, but it would simply leave him down a couple pawns. Still, Bill is not interested in helping out.

9.Qc3 Qf6 10.d4 Qe6 11.O-O Nf6 

If this game were a scary movie, this is about where the ominous background music would begin.

The e-file and the a1-h8 diagonal have problems for Black, and resolving those issues will open up other points of danger.

12.d5 cxd5 13.exd5 Qd6 14.Re1+ Kf7 15. Bg5 Bf5 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.Qxc7+ Kf8 18.Qxb7 Black resigned



White is 4 pawns up. Black's King remains at risk. The direction that the game will take is clear.